The California Chamber of Commerce released its annual list of “job killer” bills on Tuesday – and the tally of 18 so far is fewer than in recent years.
The bills, which include the minimum wage hike plan announced Monday, a requirement to provide 12 weeks of maternity/paternity leave and an affordable housing mandate, would each place excessive burdens on businesses in the state, the chamber said.
“These job killer bills represent the worst of the worst legislative proposals currently under consideration by lawmakers,” said chamber Chief Executive Allan Zaremberg. “These job killers will negatively impact future economic growth. Whether they create barriers to providing affordable housing for workers, or increase costs for companies trying to grow or stay in business, these job killer bills should not become law.”
Of the 18 bills, six deal with pay or other issues in the workplace, four deal with issues related to housing, three involve oil and fuel production and four were carried over from last year. For a complete list, see the chamber’s website: www.cajobkillers.com.
Last year, the chamber identified 19 job-killer bills; in most previous years, the number of bills had ranged between 30 and 40. Most of the bills never made it out of the Legislature and to the governor’s desk; of those that did, most were vetoed. Last year, for example, of the 19 bills identified as job killers, only three passed the Legislature. Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed two of them and signed only one into law: job protection for grocery workers when stores change ownership.
While this year’s tally is smaller, chamber spokeswoman Denise Davis said it could grow as bills are amended and new “spot” bills are introduced during the legislative session.